The Mercer Island City Council welcomes the public to council meetings and dedicates time at these meetings to hear from the public on agenda items and other issues of concern.

It is important for all community members to feel welcome and safe during council meetings. Audience members will be expected to treat all attendees with respect and civility.

Appearances Ground Rules:
Appearances is the time is set aside for members of the audience to speak to the City Council about any issue during a council meeting. The ground rules are:

Please (1) speak audibly into the podium microphone, (2) state your name and address for the record, and (3) limit your comments to three minutes.

Traditionally, the Council does not respond to comments made at the meeting, but will follow up, or have staff follow up, with the speaker if needed.

Comments should be addressed to the entire Council, not to individual Councilmembers, staff members, or the audience.

Audience members should refrain from applause or disapproval of individuals’ comments.

Any person who makes personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks, or who becomes boisterous, threatening, or personally abusive while addressing the Council, may be requested to leave the meeting.

The Council cannot accept comments on any campaign-related matters (elections for individual offices or ballot propositions) except under specific circumstances where consideration of a ballot measure is on the Council agenda (RCW 42.17A.555). Click here for further explanation.

General Rules:

Please silence cell phones, computers, tablets, and cameras while in the Council Chambers.

Please limit conversations in the audience seating area. You may be asked to step into the lobby to continue a conversation.

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